Reforms must ‘be enshrined in charter text’

The military-installed government is seeking permanent reforms, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday, adding the Cabinet would ask the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to highlight reform efforts in the main text of the draft charter rather than in provisional clauses.
Cabinet members have proposed mechanisms to ensure the next government formed after the elections will carry on the task of reform during a transition period of at least four years.
Although the first draft of the charter touches on reform plans in certain sectors such as education and law enforcement, the government believes reform provisions should have a separate chapter and not be inserted in provisional chapters, which might downgrade reform efforts to only short-term implementation, Wissanu said. He added that reforms would be a lengthy process and require long-term measures.
Wissanu said the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) agreed with the government’s suggestion on the matter.
He also suggested that the CDC should not respond to critics and the media every day because he believed critics had not read the draft thoroughly. He instead suggested that the CDC answer questions about the contents of the draft periodically.
Meanwhile, PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said he had given his feedback on the draft by stressing long-term national strategies that linked with reform plans. He added that farsighted strategies were needed to ensure that future governments would continually and seriously implement reform plans set out in the charter.
“At least during the transition period in the next four years, Thais should be assured that there will be good governance in the political system that enables the government to function and not be hit by a political impasse. This mechanism should strengthen the country to go through a transition period with social, economic and political stability,’’ he said.
Wissanu said every ministry had been instructed to give feedback on the charter draft and forward recommendations for review by tomorrow. Suwaphan questioned the motives of opponents campaigning for a public rejection of the charter. “They are the same group that want a general election to be held soon. But campaigning against the charter draft means an election will be further delayed. What are they thinking?’’ he asked.
In a related development, the NRSA will hold a two-day meeting starting today to review the draft to make its own recommendations to the CDC.
NRSA vice chair Alongkorn Ponlaboot said the assembly would schedule discussions to give each committee its own time slot. The NRSA has 12 reform committees lining up to propose their recommendations.
Meanwhile, the Democrat Party called on the government as well as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to allow the public and academic institutions to openly make comments on the charter.
Ong-art Klampaiboon, deputy leader of the party, held a press conference yesterday to call for open comments. He said the CDC would benefit from thoroughly listening to the views of various sectors that might expose flaws or weaknesses, which could be addressed before the charter is finalised.
Besides, Ong-art said, a public exchange of viewpoints could encourage people to be more interested in the charter and vote in the planned referendum. The NCPO should take these benefits into account and loosen its grip limiting people’s forums regarding the charter, he added.
Suriyasai Katasila, director of Rangsit University’s Thailand Reform Institute, reiterated that the CDC must ensure that people have room to participate in politics, especially to achieve the primary anti-graft goal addressed in the charter.
Suriyasai said corruption has become more complicated because wrongdoing often takes place at a policy level. Greater public participation and better governance in laying out policies initially could help to prevent corruption of this kind, he added.
Meanwhile, the CDC held its second forum in the Northeast to listen to peoples’ views at the weekend. The forum, led by CDC deputy chair Apichart Sukhakhanont, saw representatives from 20 Northeast provinces showing particular interest in local political systems, government policies, and people and government’s rights, freedoms and duties.
In addition, representatives from three key non-profit organisations – the Northeastern Consumers Network, WeMove and the Northeastern Community Organisation – submitted comments about how the charter draft should be amended.
Premsak Piayura, mayor of Bann Pai, said the draft’s rules about the screening of political candidates would help minimise corruption. He also stressed that the CDC should engage local organisations to help educate people about the draft.
Patiwat Chalermchart, a representative of a consumers’ network, proposed the independence of consumer-protection organisations should be assured in the charter.